UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council concluded Sunday without an official reaction to North Korea ignoring repeated international warnings and launching a long-range rocket, the council president told reporters.
South Koreans watch broadcast reports in Seoul of a North Korean rocket launch.

"Consultations will go on among members to see what is the appropriate position that the council will take," said Claude Heller, the current Security Council president, and Mexico's U.N. ambassador. When the council would reconvene wasn't clear, but Heller said it would be "as soon as possible."

"I think that there is a very strong call for dialogue, to reconvene, and I think there is consensus in saying that the Security Council regretted the government of [North Korea] disregarded the call by [the] international community to suspend the launching," he said.

The launch, at about 11:30 a.m. Korean time on Sunday, set off an immediate firestorm of criticism, inflamed tensions in the Far East, and heightened fears over the North Korean regime's potential ability to undermine nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

The North Korean government said the act was a peaceful launch of a satellite, but a U.S. State Department spokesman declared it a "provocative act in violation" of a 2006 Security Council resolution prohibiting North Korea from conducting ballistic missile launches.

"The launch constituted a clear-cut violation" of the resolution, said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. North Korea's action "merits a clear, strong response" and in the U.S. view, that would come in the form of a council resolution, Rice said. Video Watch analysis of Sunday's launch »

Japan's U.N. representative, Yukio Takasu, who requested the emergency meeting, agreed, saying the council's response should be clear and unified. Video Watch Japanese reaction to reports of at launch »

The Security Council's response could come in several forms, including a resolution, a Security Council presidential statement or some other form of public condemnation.

Still, the U.N. ambassador from China -- a council member and ally of North Korea expected to resist a resolution -- said the formal reaction to the reclusive nation should be "cautious and proportionate."

"We are now in a very sensitive moment," Ambassador Zhang Yesui said. "All countries concerned should show restraint and refrain from taking action that could lead to increased tension."

He said China is "committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," and pursuing six-party talks, which both the United States and Japan have also indicated. The six-party talks with North Korea include South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the launch during a visit to the Czech Republic.

"Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something. The world must stand together to prevent the spread of these weapons. Now's the time for a strong international response," the president said during a speech before a huge crowd in Prague.

"North Korea must know that the path to security and respect will never come through threats and illegal weapons. All nations must come together to build a stronger global regime. That's why we must stand shoulder to shoulder to pressure the North Koreans to change course," he said.

Obama is in the middle of a five-nation, eight-day European tour. He was awakened in Prague with news of the launch early Sunday.

Wendy Sherman, who coordinated the Clinton administration's North Korean policy, said she believes North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il "is up to several things."

"First, he wants to solidify his own position as the leader of his country, following a stroke," Sherman said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"He [also] wants to tell his military that it's a military-first economy, because, in fact, they get money -- funds from the sale of this missile technology.

"And he wants to say to the Obama administration, 'Pay attention to me. I'm serious. I have chips on the table, and negotiating with me is serious business.' " Video Watch analysis of what North Korea's motivations may be from the launch »

The North Korean government claimed the launch put a satellite into orbit. American military officials, however, said the launch was a failure, saying the rocket's payload cleared Japanese airspace but didn't enter into orbit.

"Stage one of the missile fell into the Sea of Japan. The remaining stages along with the payload itself landed in the Pacific Ocean," according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Northern Command, read by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

"No object entered orbit and no debris fell on Japan," and NORAD and the Northern Command assessed "the launch vehicle as not a threat to North America or Hawaii and took no action in response to this launch," said Gibbs.

Takeo Kawamura, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, told reporters that his country's military was not forced to intercept any missile, which it had pledged to do if necessary. Japanese ships were moving to the areas where parts of the rocket are believed to have fallen to retrieve them, Japanese government officials said.

The South Korean president also condemned the launch, calling it a "serious threat" to world peace, state-sponsored Yonhap news agency reported.

"We cannot withhold our regrets and disappointment that North Korea has caused such a serious threat to peace ... when the entire world is joining efforts to overcome the global economic crisis," Lee Dong-kwan, a presidential spokesman said.

The following is a sampling of reaction to the launch from other world leaders before the Security Council meeting:

• U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: "The Secretary-General regrets that, against strong international appeal, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [DPRK] went ahead with its planned launch," said a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"Given the volatility in the region, as well as a stalemate in interaction among the concerned parties, such a launch is not conducive to efforts to promote dialogue, regional peace and stability. The Secretary-General urges DPRK to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions, and all countries concerned to focus on ways to build confidence and restore dialogue, including the early resumption of the six-party talks."

• Russia's foreign minister called for restraint after the launch, the Russian Interfax news agency reported Sunday, saying that Russian officials would examine whether it violated any U.N. Security Council resolutions.

• British Foreign Secretary David Miliband: "I strongly condemn North Korea's action in conducting a satellite launch earlier today. Pyongyang [North Korea] continues to pursue a hostile policy towards the rest of the world, it cannot hope to take its rightful place within the international community."

• The European Union presidency, currently held by the Czech Republic: "The EU strongly condemns the 'experimental communications satellite' launch performed on 5 April 2009 by the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in breach of the UNSC Resolution 1718.
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"These actions place additional strains on regional stability at a time when the unresolved nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula requires mutual confidence building. Such actions are also a matter of more general concern due to their global proliferation implications."

"The EU urges the DPRK to comply with the UNSC Resolution 1718 and immediately to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme, and abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."

matthughesfan21

04-06-2009, 01:41 AM

That's because the UN is completely and utterly USELESS

VCURamFan

04-06-2009, 01:49 AM

That's because the UN is completely and utterly USELESSAmen!!

Hughes_GOAT

04-06-2009, 01:56 AM

i'm not worried about it. afterall, we're still the only country to ever use nukes.

Chuck

04-06-2009, 01:59 AM

Amen!!

That's BS!!!

They have little blue helmets... those must be good for something right?? :laugh:

VCURamFan

04-06-2009, 02:03 AM

That's BS!!!

They have little blue helmets... those must be good for something right?? :laugh:You mean these:

http://www.toystore.info/images/blue-victory-helmet.jpg

I bought my nephew one for $3 at Wal-Mart!!

matthughesfan21

04-06-2009, 02:09 AM

That's BS!!!

They have little blue helmets... those must be good for something right?? :laugh:
the UN is necessary and needed...I mean where else are we gonna set up meetings and accomplish absolutely nothing at all...No progress at all is a necessity to keeping this world running smoothly:unsure-1: :ninja:

VCURamFan

04-06-2009, 02:17 AM

the UN is necessary and needed...I mean where else are we gonna set up meetings and accomplish absolutely nothing at all...No progress at all is a necessity to keeping this world running smoothly:unsure-1: :ninja:Ummm...it's called Congress...

NateR

04-06-2009, 03:43 AM

We should show North Korea how a real nuclear missile works. What's their capital city? :laugh:

Hughes_GOAT

04-06-2009, 03:56 AM

We should show North Korea how a real nuclear missile works. What's their capital city? :laugh:

their buddies in Japan could fill them in on it.

Llamafighter

04-06-2009, 11:57 AM

We should show North Korea how a real nuclear missile works. What's their capital city? :laugh:

Kim Jong Ville

Crisco

04-06-2009, 12:59 PM

I'm getting Really fing sick of hearing about B-HO's global regime.

This dude really scares me. Not personally he isn't a scary guy at all but the things that he is saying and doing are.

Tyburn

04-07-2009, 09:13 PM

Of Course not.. the UN is looking to see what the US will do .. and follow suit!

[

and in the U.S. view, that would come in the form of a council resolution, Rice said. Video Watch analysis of Sunday's launch »

"Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something. The world must stand together to prevent the spread of these weapons. Now's the time for a strong international response," the president said during a speech before a huge crowd in Prague.

"North Korea must know that the path to security and respect will never come through threats and illegal weapons. All nations must come together to build a stronger global regime. That's why we must stand shoulder to shoulder to pressure the North Koreans to change course," he said.

What are you talking about??? The United States is ON The Security Council. Stop speaking about the United Nations as if YOU arent part of it :laugh:

I'm saddened to here Obama use the cliched "shoulder to shoulder" blah...and after saying words should mean something and violations should be punished...what did he DO....:mellow:

Tyburn

04-07-2009, 09:14 PM

That's because the UN is completely and utterly USELESS
:huh: which is why your appealing to the UN rather then...what...invading :huh:

Tyburn

04-07-2009, 09:19 PM

i'm not worried about it. afterall, we're still the only country to ever use nukes.
Agreed. How ironic that the one country so petrified of losing its freedoms, and being attacked...is the only one to have actually used WMD on another culture.

If the United Nations was so useless...please explain why the United States defered to it over the whole Israel thing (both with palestine AND Lebanon?) please tell me why they defer to it over the other ruthless dictators in this world...What? You thought Saddam was the only one :huh:

Perhaps you learned your lesson with Grenada, perhaps thats why you dont go for Robert Mugabe...or perhaps Africa is not such a viable prospect following Somalia.

You guys REALLY need to show a little respect for the rest of the World. apart from the French :laugh:

rearnakedchoke

04-07-2009, 09:29 PM

US only invades country's where there is false suspicion of WMD's ... N. Korea has clearly displayed they have WMD's so there is no real need for them to go ... plus .. there is no real Oil in N. Korea is there?

Tyburn

04-07-2009, 09:30 PM

US only invades country's where there is false suspicion of WMD's ... N. Korea has clearly displayed they have WMD's so there is no real need for them to go ... plus .. there is no real Oil in N. Korea is there?
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Agreed. How ironic that the one country so petrified of losing its freedoms, and being attacked...is the only one to have actually used WMD on another culture.

If the United Nations was so useless...please explain why the United States defered to it over the whole Israel thing (both with palestine AND Lebanon?) please tell me why they defer to it over the other ruthless dictators in this world...What? You thought Saddam was the only one :huh:

Perhaps you learned your lesson with Grenada, perhaps thats why you dont go for Robert Mugabe...or perhaps Africa is not such a viable prospect following Somalia.

You guys REALLY need to show a little respect for the rest of the World. apart from the French :laugh:

this is rhetorical, right Dave? you know the answer to these :laugh:

Tyburn

04-07-2009, 09:42 PM

this is rhetorical, right Dave? you know the answer to these :laugh:
it just annoys me Andreas, that all these Americans pooh-pooh the UN and speak as if the United States wasnt responsible primarily for its creation, or that they are a part of it.

Naturally, they are too busy saving the Universe :mellow:

Hughes_GOAT

04-07-2009, 09:44 PM

it just annoys me Andreas, that all these Americans pooh-pooh the UN and speak as if the United States wasnt responsible primarily for its creation, or that they are a part of it.

Naturally, they are too busy saving the Universe :mellow:

it's the American way. if it's not in our favor, we denounce it. :wink:

VCURamFan

04-07-2009, 09:49 PM

You guys REALLY need to show a little respect for the rest of the World. apart from the French :laugh:Respect needs to be earned. I respect the UK (aside from the 16 on TUF :laugh:) because they've been our loyal allies (well, ignoring the whole revolutionary war & war of 1812, but other than that!). I respect Canada because they send us good comedians. I respect Germany because they make good cars. I don't respect British comedians, Canadian cars or German allies.

rearnakedchoke

04-07-2009, 10:19 PM

Respect needs to be earned. I respect the UK (aside from the 16 on TUF :laugh:) because they've been our loyal allies (well, ignoring the whole revolutionary war & war of 1812, but other than that!). I respect Canada because they send us good comedians. I respect Germany because they make good cars. I don't respect British comedians, Canadian cars or German allies.
Canadian cars? what would those be ... or are you talking about american cars made in canada?

VCURamFan

04-07-2009, 10:22 PM

Canadian cars? what would those be ... or are you talking about american cars made in canada?No, I was just switiching the nouns & the countries for effect.

NateR

04-07-2009, 10:53 PM

What are you talking about??? The United States is ON The Security Council. Stop speaking about the United Nations as if YOU arent part of it :laugh:

None of us chose to be a part of the UN, Dave. That was a decision that was made before any of us were born. However, if you read the words of the Founding Fathers, the idea of the US entering any kind of alliance with Europe would have been a considerably dangerous one.

I personally happen to disagree with our place in the UN, I don't think the organization should exist at all.

I don't know the number of times the US has deferred to the UN and I really don't care. I just know that many Americans don't agree that we should be a part of it.

We're the greatest nation in the world, what do we need the UN for?

Tyburn

04-07-2009, 11:01 PM

None of us chose to be a part of the UN, Dave. That was a decision that was made before any of us were born. However, if you read the words of the Founding Fathers, the idea of the US entering any kind of alliance with Europe would have been a considerably dangerous one.

I personally happen to disagree with our place in the UN, I don't think the organization should exist at all.

I don't know the number of times the US has deferred to the UN and I really don't care. I just know that many Americans don't agree that we should be a part of it.

We're the greatest nation in the world, what do we need the UN for?
You basically created the United Nations to curb rougue nations that would act like Hitler did. Invade whoever they wanted, when they wanted, for their own personal gain. The United Nations is like a World Opinion Poll

You big dissagreement to it, is probably that it stops you doing whatever you want to do...but thats the whole idea. What gives The United States of America, the Right to act outside of her own soverignty without thought or regard for any other country :huh:

Europe was rebuilt by the Americans, and along with members of Old Europe the United States FOUNDED the United Nations...why do you think half the Security Council Members are World War Two Allied Nations :huh: Why do you think the United Nations Headquarter is in America :huh: These are cooincidences????

Neezar

04-08-2009, 02:33 AM

it just annoys me Andreas, that all these Americans pooh-pooh the UN and speak as if the United States wasnt responsible primarily for its creation, or that they are a part of it.

Naturally, they are too busy saving the Universe :mellow:

Dave, just because we helped to found it, set up it's structure, and be a member of the UN does NOT mean that we can't say that we think it isn't accomplishing what it was set up to do. The UN works in some cases and some it don't. It looks like we will have to pick up their slack.

:laugh:

Besides, if we weren't deferring to world issues to the UN then you would be pissin' & moanin' about that, too.

(Before you say "Well, you didn't listen to them before...", I say, "So, we broke out of form; doesn't mean that we have to continue to do it everytime.")

NateR

04-08-2009, 02:37 AM

You basically created the United Nations to curb rougue nations that would act like Hitler did. Invade whoever they wanted, when they wanted, for their own personal gain. The United Nations is like a World Opinion Poll

You big dissagreement to it, is probably that it stops you doing whatever you want to do...but thats the whole idea. What gives The United States of America, the Right to act outside of her own soverignty without thought or regard for any other country :huh:

Europe was rebuilt by the Americans, and along with members of Old Europe the United States FOUNDED the United Nations...why do you think half the Security Council Members are World War Two Allied Nations :huh: Why do you think the United Nations Headquarter is in America :huh: These are cooincidences????

Again, "we" didn't create anything. The UN was created before any of the Americans on this board were even born. So, it's not us doing anything, it's our government acting on it's own accord independent of the will of the people. I think most Americans would find the UN an unnecessary body that accomplishes nothing and just sits around and waits for America to do all the dirty works. Then they shake their heads and pretend to be offended as they reap the benefits of our actions.

Hughes_GOAT

04-08-2009, 03:31 AM

The UN was created before any of the Americans on this board were even born.